Kyodo News Chief Visits DPRK

Kyodo News President Satoshi Ishikawa (L) shakes hands with SPA Presidium President Kim Yong Nam (R) at Mansudae Assembly Hall in Pyongyang on 12 October 2012 (Photo: KCNA)

DPRK state media reported on 12 October (Friday) that Satoshi Ishikawa, President of Kyodo News, and Kyodo News a delegation met with Supreme People’s Assembly Presidium President Kim Yong Nam at Mansudae Assembly Hall in Pyongyang.  According to KCNA Mr. Ishikawa told Kim “that the DPRK has achieved great successes under the wise leadership of Kim Jong Un, first secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, who is successfully carrying forward the cause of General Secretary Kim Jong Il” and that “he could believe rosy future of the DPRK visiting different places.”  KCNA also reported that Mr. Ishikawa “expressed the will of the Kyodo News to make a contribution to improving the Japan-DPRK relations by fair and objective information activities.”

SPA Presidium President Kim Yong Nam (4th R) poses for a commemorative photograph with a Kyodo News delegation led by its president Satoshi Ishikawa (4th L) at Mansudae Assembly Hall in Pyongyang on 12 October 2012 (Photo: KCNA)

A delegation from Japan’s Kyodo News Agency meets with SPA Presidium President Kim Yong Nam (3rd R) at Mansuade Assembly Hall in Pyongyang on 12 October 2012 (Photo: KCNA)

SPA Presidium President Kim Yong Nam (R) meets with Kyodo News President Satoshi Ishikawa at Mansudae Assembly Hall in Pyongyang on 12 October 2012 (Photo: KCNA)

The Kyodo News delegation arrived on 9 October (Tuesday).  According to Rodong Sinmun, the delegation was greeted at Pyongyang Airport by Korean Central News Agency Deputy (vice) director Chon Il).  The delegation visited several sites in Pyongyang including the Pyongyang Folk Village and, interestingly, the Party Memorial Monument (Party Foundation Monument) in east Pyongyang.

Kyodo News President Satoshi Ishikawa (2nd R) and members of a Kyodo News delegation after arriving at Pyongyang Airport on 9 October 2012 (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)